JPH0448381B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION <Field of Industrial Application> The present invention relates to a method of using an X-ray recording cassette having a phosphor coated film and a reading device (station) for carrying out the same method, and more particularly to a reading device (station) for carrying out the same method. In an X-ray recording cassette consisting of two swingable members (a cover part and a base part), a scannable phosphor layer-coated X-ray recording film is placed with the phosphor layer side facing the base part, and the film is The latent image formed when the line is irradiated is scanned by a laser light scanner at a reading station after the film is removed from the cassette, and the emitted light is converted into a digital electrical signal, which then is illuminated with suitable visible light to erase the image, the digital image signal can be stored in a central memory and converted into a visible image on the screen, or the screen image can be converted into a visible image on the screen imager or the digital image signal an X-ray recording cassette with a phosphor-coated film, which can be recorded on a sheet of photographic film in a laser beam imaging device (both referred to as a hardcopy device), which is controlled by a central memory; The invention relates to a method of using the method and a reading device (station) that implements the method.

<Prior art> The type of cassette mentioned at the beginning is described in European Patent Publication No. 79557B1, and the method of using this type of cassette is described in European Patent Publication No. 142709A2, and is already on the market. It's out. Known methods and devices for cassettes of this type with phosphor-coated recording films are essentially based on the principle that a latent image is generated when the film in the cassette is irradiated with X-rays. At the reading station, after the film is removed from the cassette, the latent image is irradiated (scanned) using a laser beam scanner, and the light beam emitted at that time is converted into a digital image signal. It is converted back into a visible image on a screen or with a screen imager or a computer-controlled laser imager. The latent or illuminated image is then erased and the film is sent to a device that loads the film into cassettes. At this time, in order to know the content of the identification data provided on the film's identification means, the identification data is read using an appropriate separate reading means, converted into an electrical identification signal, and added to the digital image signal. Must.

<Problems to be Solved by the Invention> The above-mentioned known methods require a relatively large amount of time between taking the film out of the cassette at the reading station and returning it to the cassette in the device that loads and discharges the film into the cassette. The disadvantage is that the phosphor layer is exposed to unprotected mechanical influences over long distances, which leads to premature wear and tear of the phosphor layer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a method of the type mentioned at the outset and a reading device for use therewith, which allows the film to be handled more quickly and without damage.

<Means for Solving the Problems> In order to solve the above problems, according to the present invention, a cassette is positioned at a reading station, a film is taken out from the cassette and transferred to a film stand, and the film stand is moved together with the film. The photoconductive member is moved linearly from the initial position in a direction perpendicular to the scanning direction of the laser beam scanner and on the side of the laser beam scanner, the photoconductive member, and the erase lamp, and the photoconductive member is connected to the photomultiplier and the central memory. the cassette is moved in the same direction as the film bed to a second positioning position corresponding to the final position of the film bed, in which the film is returned to the original cassette, after which the cassette is closed; A configuration is adopted in which the reading station is ejected from an ejection slit in a read station in a usable state.

The invention also provides for cassette positioning means having transport paths behind the cassette insertion slit in the housing of the reading station and in front of the cassette ejection slit provided on the opposite side of said housing and aligned with said insertion slit. is provided, and two guide sliders are provided between the transfer paths and aligned with the transfer path and with each other, a cassette guide belt extends above each guide slider, and a cassette guide belt extends between each guide slider. A cassette processing means is arranged below the cassette for opening and closing the cassette, loading and ejecting film, and the guide slider is movable in the vertical direction so that the cassette can be inserted into or ejected from the cassette processing means. configuration has been adopted.

<Function> The method of the present invention or a reading device suitable for the method of the present invention has the following advantages.

1. The user does not need to touch the film. The user does not see the film except when it becomes necessary to replace the film after long-term use.

2. A device for loading film into a cassette and a separate process for loading film into a cassette can be omitted.

3. You can always start with the film loaded in the cassette.

4. The cassette can be completely closed, and there is no need to provide a window for reading data.

5. Variable data can be recorded on film and cassettes until the end of their lifetime. Thereby, the age of the cassette and film, the number of exposures and the exposure/erasing status can be detected. Incrementing the cassette memory by ``1'' each time the latent image is digitized can be done using a cassette memory reader at the reading station, which is then incremented by ``1'' when changing the film in the identification device. ” is reset. In order to store the film status "exposure/erase" in the cassette memory, it is necessary to provide the X-ray recorder with a data input device and the reading station with erasing means. If a number of recordings corresponding to the life of the film is reached, a warning signal can be generated in the reading station or in the identification device.

6 Patient data can be written into the cassette at or before the x-ray examination, from which time the image information is recorded on the phosphor film.

7 By always returning the film to the same cassette at the reading station, the film is separated from the cassette by a very short distance, thereby reducing the transfer time compared to conventional methods of processing cassettes with phosphor-coated films. protected from damage or wear. This method therefore does not provide patient data in a memory on a cassette, but rather in other ways, such as by adding it to the digitized image signal via a readable memory on a film or in a reading station. It can also be advantageously used in cases where data signals are directly added via a built-in keyboard.

According to the embodiment of the present invention, digital storage, writing, and
A readable and erasable memory or a window for such a memory provided on the uncoated side of the film is provided, in which record-specific data (e.g. patient data) can be stored in the identification device. There are many possible ways to use the cassette. In this case, a memory provided in the cassette or film is read by a memory reading station at a first position of the cassette, and if the data is read, the cassette is opened and the film is processed; The cassette and film are then transferred together again, the cassette is ejected from the ejection slit, and the data is stored in a central memory together with the digital image signal, or if the data cannot be read (e.g. due to incorrect insertion). (or if the cassette is unusable), the cassette is ejected with the film from the insertion slot of the reading station without being opened.

Further, according to an embodiment of the reading device of the present invention, a guide plate supporting the bottom of the cassette is arranged above each guide slider, and the transfer slider or the transfer belt is supported on the guide plate.

Furthermore, according to an embodiment of the reading device of the invention, each guide slider is provided with at least two tongues by which the cassettes can be moved into the processing device, supported from behind and lifted. and the distance between the tongues is smaller than the length of the smallest cassette inserted in this direction.

Further, according to an embodiment of the reading device of the present invention, the film table is movable below the processing device, and the starting point and end point of the film table are respectively positioned within the processing device and aligned with the opened cassette. The film in the cassette is transferred to the film stand at the starting point or end point position or by a suction device, a transfer roller, a transfer belt, or other film transfer means, and the film in the film stand is inserted into the cassette. The configuration is adopted.

Further, according to an embodiment of the reading device of the present invention, an electronic control device is provided, and the control device controls the cassette transfer means, the guide slider, the processing device, and the drive device of the film stand according to their functions.
A configuration in which the power is turned on and off in the correct temporal order is adopted.

Further, according to an embodiment of the present invention, in a cassette reading device in which a cassette having a digital memory or a digital memory arranged on a film is shown through a window or the like, the memory reading device is connected to a cassette processing device adjacent to the insertion slit. is arranged so as to be able to swing and is connected to the central memory.
Adopts a structure that can be controlled by an electronic control device, and that can be moved to the memory when the cassette is positioned within the cassette processing device, and that swings back to its original position after reading the data in the memory. has been done.

Furthermore, according to an embodiment of the reading device of the present invention, the two cassette processing devices for loading and unloading films into and out of the cassettes, the guide slider and the corresponding transfer means are formed of mutually equal members.

<Examples> Examples of the present invention are shown in the drawings and explained in detail below.

The invention is based on a conventional X-ray recording cassette containing a flat recording material sensitive to X-rays. The cassette is formed from two parts that are pivotable relative to each other, a base part and a cover part, with the base part usually facing towards the patient or exposed to the X-rays. A pressing means, such as a foam plate, for pressing the recording material is provided within the cassette. The illustrated cassette is therefore very schematic and is designated as a whole with the reference numeral 1. This type of cassette, which has means for locking and unlocking the cover portion and is of substantially one-piece construction, is available in a variety of sizes to suit existing recording formats. In special cases, there may be an
No linear photographic film is provided, but a recording film 2 coated with a scannable phosphor layer is provided. When X-rays are irradiated, a latent image is generated on the recording film, and this latent image is scanned with a laser beam and emits light, which is converted into a digital electrical image signal and stored. The stored image signal can then be viewed as a visible image on a screen. It is likewise possible to produce so-called hard copies on conventional photographic film in a known manner.

At a predetermined position on the outer surface of the cover of each cassette 1 with respect to a reference point (always the same point for cassettes of the same type in various formats), a memory 3 is provided which can be stored, read and erased in digital form. To make this memory 3 easier to understand,
In order to distinguish it from other types of memory, it will be referred to as a cassette memory hereinafter. Only the bearing plate and contacts 3a to 3d of the cassette memory 3 are shown (FIG. 5). As a reference point regarding the position of the cassette memory 3, a predetermined cassette edge 1b can be used.
When a cassette of any format is placed in a device that processes cassette 1, it is positioned at the same position in each device.

As the memory, magnetic memory (magnetic stripe) or semiconductor memory can be considered. Magnetic memory has the advantage of being simple and inexpensive, but has the disadvantage that it can only store small amounts of data and the readout process requires a relatively long time. Therefore, in the following description, semiconductor memories will be used for reasons of overall preference. Advantages of semiconductor memory include rapid readout, large memory capacity, insensitivity to magnetic fields, and simple readout mechanism. The data memory and the reading mechanism may be connected directly, ie, without wires. In the case of a direct connection, it is advantageous to use serial memories because of the small number of contacts.

The use of a cassette of the above type with a phosphor-coated film 2 and a writable and at least partially erasable memory 3 provided on the flat side of the cassette provides a method of operation that is particularly non-damaging to the film and requires fewer working steps. must be done. First, the known basic principles for processing phosphorus coated films will be explained. After the latent image generated by irradiating the film 2 with X-rays in the X-ray recording device is removed from the cassette at the reading station 6, the film 2 is preferably further moved and rotated using a laser beam scanner 6a. The beam is scanned through a mirror 6b, and the beam sent out at that time is transmitted to an optical fiber and a photomultiplier 6c.
The image on the film 2 is then erased by irradiating it with visible light using a lamp 6d. The digital image signals are stored in a central memory 7 and from there converted back into a visible image on a screen 8 or in a screen imager or a laser light imager 9 (both devices known as hardcopy devices). It is recorded in the form of a visible image on a sheet of photographic material. However, it is also possible to store and hold the digital image signal in the diskette 10 or the like.

The basic idea of the new method of handling cassettes 1, 2, 3 according to the invention is as follows. That is, in the identification device 4 having the operation keyboard 4a, data (for example, patient data) serving as a reference for specific X-ray recording is stored in the cassette memory 3 immediately before or after the X-ray recording by the X-ray recording device. The image-specific data stored in the cassette memory 3 is read out at the reading station 6 and stored in the central memory 7 together with the digital image signal of the X-ray exposed film 2 in the cassette 1. It is made visible with a visual image or recorded as a photograph in the hardcopy device 9. After the image-specific data stored in the cassette memory 3 has been processed in the reading station 6, it may be erased by the reading device 6e of the cassette memory 3 provided in the reading station 6, or by the identification device 4. This may be done when rewriting the cassette memory. Either method is selected depending on the structure of the device.

For handling or processing the cassettes 1, 2, 3, the exposed cassette 1 with image-specific data is inserted in the direction of the arrow into the insertion slot 6f of the reading station 6, positioned there and then the image-specific data are inserted into the insertion slot 6f of the reading station 6. is read out from the cassette memory 3 by the reading device 6e. Next, the cassette 1 is opened, the film 2 is taken out from the cassette 1, and the latent image recorded on the film 2 is converted into a digital image signal as described above and stored in the central memory 7. , the image on the film 2 is erased, and the film 2 is returned to its original cassette. Then, the cassette loaded with film and ready for use is ejected from the ejection slit 6.
It is discharged from g.

As is clear from FIGS. 2 to 4, a feature of the method is that the cassette 1 inserted into the reading station 6 passes through the reading station in an approximately straight line. However, the cassette is held in its initial position, moved down a predetermined distance, captured by a known positioning and removal device, opened to remove the film, and closed. Thereafter, the cassette is again transferred along the transfer path to a second location and captured by a second positioning and retrieving device similar to said first positioning and retrieval device. In this second positioning and unloading device, the cassette is also positioned, opened, reloaded with alternatively processed film, closed and discharged from the discharge slit 6g ready for use. . The film 2 removed from the cassette 1 in the first positioning and unloading device is transferred in a known manner to a known flat film bed and is passed through the processing device of this film bed in a straight line and parallel to the cassette 1. and returned to the cassette in a second positioning and retrieval device. The film 2 is therefore moved outside the cassette over a very short distance extending parallel to the movement of the cassette, and the step of feeding the cassette and film separately to the film loading device is omitted.
The film is not damaged, and the additional process of loading the film and the separate film loading device itself are eliminated.

As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the positioning of the cassette memory 3 in the reading station 6 for reading and removing the exposed film and the return of said film to the cassette are carried out in accordance with, for example, German Patent Publication No. 3544719C1. This can be carried out using any known device such as the device for loading and unloading film into a cassette as described in the above.
Therefore, first, two identical devices for positioning a cassette and for loading and unloading film will be briefly described with reference to FIG. Positioning and guide plates 15 are provided at the rear sides of the cassette insertion slit 6f and the cassette ejection slit 6g of the reading station 6, respectively. The lower edge of the vertical insertion slot 6f or discharge slot 6g is aligned with at least a drivable friction roller 17 of the transport path 16 for guiding and placing the cassette.
When the cassette 1 is inserted into the insertion slot 6f and moved to the friction roller 17, the cassette is captured by the friction roller and transferred to the transfer belt 18 having an interlock 18a (only one interlock is shown). ). A transfer belt 18 then transfers the cassette to the positioning device. When the front end of the cassette reaches a photo interrupter (not shown) or the like, transport of the cassette is stopped. The cassette is guided into the area of the positioning means by means of a pivotable guide slide 20, which will be described below. The positioning means are each formed by a fixed angle stop 21 and a movable angle stop 22 aligned with the angle stop. Disposed between the two stops are rotatable and movable locking members 23, 24 for unlocking the cassette cover and rotatable levers 25, 26 for closing the cassette cover again. The angle stopper 22 is the attached locking member 2.
4 and lever 26 are movably mounted on a rod 27, and together with locking member 23 and lever 24 on a shaft 28. The shaft 28 is rotatable via a crank gear device 29 which is fixedly coupled to the same shaft, and is movable in the vertical direction via a fixedly coupled gear 30 that meshes with a rack gear piece 31. When the cassette is inserted, the shaft 28 occupies an upper position in which the angle stops 21, 22, which are not rotated by the same shaft, are located approximately in the plane of the transport path 16 or the guide slide 20 or below it. It is located in The cassette is thus moved by the guide slide 20 from the plane of the transport path 16 into the area of the angle stops 21,22. Then, the movable angle stopper 22 is moved toward the fixed angle stopper 21, so
The cassette is positioned between the two angle stops 21,22. A reading device 6e, which is swingably disposed in front of the cassette cover, is moved towards the cassette memory 3 (see FIGS. 4 and 6) and reads the data to be stored from the cassette memory and reads the data already mentioned. central memory 7
Store in. The reading device 6e is then moved away. The crank 29 then moves the shaft 28 counterclockwise. The cassette, the locking members and the levers are then moved downwards by means of a control cam which is shown in FIGS.
6 is rotated, and the locking member is moved,
Thereby, the cassette locking means 1a is unlocked,
The cassette cover is flipped up by the action of a dedicated spring or by an opening hook (not shown) attached to the crank 29.
The film is then removed from the cassette by a known suction device 32 and sent to a known film stand 33 (e.g. by means of a vacuum support member) and then to the laser light scanner 6a or to the side of the laser light scanner. will be moved. In this case, the film table 33 is moved along with the film 2 from the initial position in a direction perpendicular to the scanning direction of the laser beam scanner 6a, and the laser beam scanner, the photoconducting member 6c, and the erasing lamp 6
It is moved linearly on the side of d. The photoconductive member is connected to a photomultiplier (optoelectronic image tube). The images on the film are converted into electrical digital image signals by a photomultiplier and sequentially stored in the central memory 7. After erasing the image on the film with the lamp 6d, the film is moved into the area of the suction means 32 of the second positioning device which positions the cassette and is returned to the cassette by this positioning device. The cassettes have also already been closed in the first positioning device, transported in the return direction, and lifted onto the transport path 16 by the first guide slide 20, with the transport belts 18 running approximately parallel to each other. is further moved in the direction of the second positioning device. On reaching the second positioning device, the cassette is stopped again, inserted into the positioning device by the second guide slide 20 and positioned.
It will be released. After the film is loaded,
Reverse the above steps with crank 29,
The cassette and shaft 28 are transferred upwards to the lever 2.
5 and 26 capture and press the cassette cover. The cassette, which has been reloaded with film and closed, is swung upwardly by the second guide slider 20 and moved onto the transfer path 16, whereupon the second transfer belt 18, its interlocking member 18a, and friction roller are moved. 1
7 and is discharged from the discharge slit 6g.

The film table 33 can be moved by known means such as a motor-driven worm driver 43 or a belt driver. The movement of the reading device 6e onto the cassette memory 3 in the first positioning device (see FIG. 6) can also be effected by a motor. The guide slide 20 is clearly shown in FIG. 2
The two guide sliders 20 are also driven by a motor (not shown). Each guide slider 20 has two tongue pieces 2.
0a is provided, which tongue extends slightly beyond the lower narrow side of the cassette and holds the cassette when moved into the positioning device below until final delivery to the positioning device; Alternatively, the cassette can be received directly from the positioning device. A drive motor 35 for driving the positioning device is also shown schematically.

The control of all individual devices of the reading station 6 according to the method of the invention takes place in a known manner via an electronic control unit 36, which is schematically illustrated in FIG. This control is preferably performed as follows. That is, if an incorrect cassette that cannot be processed is inserted, or if a cassette is inserted in an incorrect manner, the reading device 6e of the cassette memory 3 recognizes this and reports this to the electronic control unit. That is, if an incorrect cassette is inserted or a processable cassette is inserted in an incorrect state, the cassette memory 3 will be located under the reading device 6e at the position determined by the first positioning device. I don't come to The reading device cannot detect the readable upper part when reading,
This is reported to the central memory 7 and the electronic control unit 36. The electronic control unit halts normal processing procedures and instead causes the unusable cassette to be ejected. The cassette is not opened at once, but is again lifted onto the surface of the transport path 16 by the first guide slider 20, and the transport belt 18 and the friction roller 1
7, it is ejected from the insertion slit 6f. Therefore, the user can immediately know that something unusual has happened to the cassette.

According to another embodiment of the method and device of the invention, variable data is stored in the cassette memory 3 or in a memory provided on a film freely accessible through the window of the cassette, this data being e.g. It is incremented by "1" each time it is read by the reader 6e, and reset to "zero" each time the film is replaced. In this way, the number of times the film has been used is detected. When the number of exposures reaches the end of the film's life, a warning signal is generated in the identification device 4, the X-ray recording device 5, and the reading station 6 provided in the apparatus of the present invention.

The reading station 6 of the invention further includes:
It has the advantage that it can be used for positioning a cassette and ejecting film, as well as for positioning and reloading two cassettes of the same construction, thereby simplifying manufacture and assembly.

<Effects of the Invention> As is clear from the above description, according to the present invention, relatively little time is required between taking the film out of the cassette at the reading station and returning it to the cassette in the device that loads and discharges the film into the cassette. Unprotected exposure to mechanical influences over long distances and the resulting premature wear of the phosphor layer can be avoided, and the film can be handled more easily and more quickly. A device of the type mentioned at the beginning can be obtained.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a combination of devices for implementing the method of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view schematically showing a reading station for implementing the method of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a cassette of the reading station shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a top view showing the transfer section, FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the cassette transfer, film removal and reloading of the reading station shown in FIG. 2, and FIG. FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of FIG. 4, showing the position of the cassette before taking out the film from the cassette. 1...Cassette, 2...Film, 6...Reading station, 6a, 6b...Laser beam scanner, 6c...Photoconductive member, 6d...Erasing lamp, 6f...Insertion slit, 6g...Ejection slit, 7... Central memory, 18... Guide belt, 2
0...Guide slider, 21-32...Cassette processing means, 33...Film stand.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An X-ray recording film coated with a stimulable phosphor layer is disposed in an X-ray recording cassette consisting of two parts that are movable relative to each other, and when the film is irradiated with X-rays, The latent image formed is scanned by a laser light scanner after the film is removed from the cassette at a reading station, the light generated is converted into a digital image signal, and the film is then exposed to suitable visible light. In the method of using an X-ray recording cassette having a phosphor-coated film, the image of which is erased by a phosphor-coated film, and the digital image signal is stored in a central memory and can be converted into a visible image on a screen or recorded by a hard copy device. The cassette 1 is positioned at the reading station 6, and the film 2 is taken out from the cassette and transferred to the film stand 33. direction and linearly moved on the side of the laser beam scanner, the light guide member 6c, and the erasing lamp 6d,
The photoconductive member is connected to a photomultiplier and a central memory 7, and the cassette 1 is moved in the same direction as the film table 33 to a second positioning position corresponding to the final position of the film table 33. X-ray film with phosphor coating, characterized in that in the position the film 2 is returned to its original cassette 1, after which the cassette 1 is closed and it is ejected from the ejection slit 6g of the reading station 6 in a usable state. How to use the recording cassette. 2. In a reading device for an X-ray recording cassette having a phosphor-coated film, which implements the method according to claim 1, there is provided the following: behind the cassette insertion slit 6f of the housing of the reading station 6 and on the opposite side of the housing. In front of the cassette ejection slits 6g provided and aligned with the insertion slits, cassette positioning means each having a transfer path 16 are provided, and between the transfer paths two cassette positioning means aligned with the transfer path and with each other are provided. A guide slider 20 is provided, a cassette guide belt 18 extends above each guide slider, and below each guide slider 20 is a cassette processing means 21 for opening and closing the cassette, loading and unloading film.
32 are arranged, and the guide slider 20 is configured to be movable in the vertical direction so that the cassette 1 can be inserted into or ejected from the cassette processing means 21 to 32. A reading device for an X-ray recording cassette having a phosphor coated film.